Victory farm volunteers of the U.S. Crop Corps need 500,000 boys and girls

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BOYS AND OIRLS

AWI-52

JULY 1943

WHY THE FARMER NEEDS YOUR HELP

The farmer has one of the Nation's most
important jobs. Uncle Sam has called on him

to raise food for our fighting men, our war
workers, and our allies. His sons and hired
men may be in the armed forces or working
in war plants. More food than ever must be
produced with fewer people to do it. Every-
body who can must help!

HOW BOYS AND GIRLS CAN GET WORK
ON A FARM THIS SUMMER

Be a Victory Farm Volunteer. This is the
title given boys and girls volunteering for work
on farms this summer. The volunteers are
part of the U. S. Crop Corps. The best
estimate is that half a million boys and girls
will be needed.

In many high schools the Victory Farm
Volunteers may be a part of the High School
Victory Corps. Private and parochial schools
may also organize a VFV group. A teacher in
the school will be in charge of Victory Farm
Volunteer recruitment. County agricultural

agents with the help of local volunteer com-
mittees will arrange for the placement and
supervision of the boys and girls on farms.

COOPERATION OF YOUTH-SERVING
AGENCIES

Youth-serving agencies are participating
wholeheartedly in the Victory Farm Volunteer
program. In many sections of the country
they are running farm work camps and other
VFV programs. Boys and girls can apply
through local club leaders and youth-serving
agencies, or the Junior Citizen Service Corps
of the Civilian Defense Councils. Such groups
will be considered full members of the VFV
and will, of course, be eligible for the insignia
and certificate of service.

WHO CAN JOIN THE VICTORY FARM
VOLUNTEERS

Any able-bodied boy or girl who is 14 years
of age or older and willing to help with farm
work can join. The greatest demand will be
for boys who are 16 and 17 years old and girls
who are 16 years old or older.

Members of the Victory Farm Volunteers
will not wear uniforms. Insignia, as shown
on the back of this folder, will be available.

Certificates of service will be issued at the end
of the season to recruits who make good.

TRAINING

Many volunteers will receive some training
through the schools. The training will vary-
in each county and school and may include
scheduled instruction periods during school
hours, Saturday training in organized groups,
talks by agricultural agents and leading farmers,
and week-end visits to farms. In addition,
volunteers will be given some physical condi-
tioning in school and taught how to keep in
good condition for their work. Most of the
training in farm skills will be done on the job
by the farmer, but every effort will be made
to give certain skill training before the young
people are employed.

KINDS OF FARM SERVICE

There are three types of placement.

1. Living with the farmer's family, doing
general farm work, such as harvesting and
threshing grain, making hay, and caring for
livestock. Young people volunteering for this
type of placement will be expected to sign up
for 2 to 4 months.

2. Living at home, being transported daily
to and from the farm, for special jobs. Young
people working on this basis will sign up for
varying lengths of time.

3. Living in a supervised camp, helping to
harvest vegetables, fruits, and other crops.
Work camps will generally run from 1 to 2
months.

The type of farming, the labor needs, and
other factors will determine where the Victory
Farm Volunteers will be placed.

SUPERVISION

Supervision will be provided for the mutual
protection of all concerned. Farms, as well a?
the recruits assigned to these farms, will b

ally selected. Those who live on farms
>e visited regularly by the emergency farm
assistant (VFV). He will help the boy
1 to become acquainted in the community
take part in its activities. 4-H Clubs,
re Farmers' chapters, Defense Councils,
)ther community organizations will do all
can to make the Victory Farm Volunteers
me.

3ES

e farmer for whom they work will pay the
ry Farm Volunteers the same wages as
paid to other workers in the community
; the same kind and amount of work,
penses will be paid by the volunteers out
lat they earn, except when the farmer
s to pay transportation and furnish room
board as part of the pay. In camps,
g people will usually be charged a specified
y rate for their living expenses at the

/IERS' INTEREST IN THE VICTORY
A VOLUNTEERS

mers who employ these volunteers will
xpect them to be seasoned, skilled farm
ers from the start. The Extension Service
ncourage farmers to start the volunteers
e simpler jobs first, until their muscles are
ned to do more difficult tasks,
•ms will be selected according to standards
p by local farm placement committees,
ally in accordance with Guides to Success-
nnployment of Nonfarm Youth in Wartime
ulture, published by the Children's Bureau
United States Department of Labor.

*ANCE

tory Farm Volunteers and their super-
can get a special accident policy at a
reduced rate from a number of insurance
fcnies. The policy will insure the workers

for 3 months and will pay up to $250 for any
medical expenses incurred in connection with
an accident. It provides $500 for loss of life,
and up to $1,000 for loss of limb or of sight.
It will cover the worker 24 hours a day wherever
he may be, and will remain in effect for the
full 3 months, even though the worker does not
remain in farm work for the whole period.
The policy costs $4. It can be renewed for an
additional 3 months for $4, or for an additional
month for $1.50. Application forms can be
obtained from the county agricultural agent's
office.

ADVANTAGES OF FARM WORK

Farm work is war work. Producing food is
the most vital war job young people can do.
It is just as important as tanks and guns in
winning the war.

Farm work makes for physical fitness. It
provides the satisfactions of the out-of-doors.
Experience in the country will broaden your
outlook and give you a better understanding
of the farmer's part in our life.

For further information see your local school officials,
the county agricultural agent, State Department of
Education, or Extension Service of the State agricul-
tural college.

EXTENSION SERVICE
United States Department of Agriculture

In Collaboration With United States Office of Education
and other Government and private agencies

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16—36026-1